2012 On the Horizon: Northwest Oklahoma by Enid News & Eagle

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THIS YEAR IS ONE OF EXPECTATION FOR ENID AND NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA. IT IS A TIME OF CHANGE AS THE AREA EMERGES FROM RECESSION AND LOOKS TOWARD PROGRESSION. THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT HAVE BUILT AND SUSTAINED OUR WAY OF LIFE ARE CHANGING, AND THE PEOPLE ARE TASKED WITH CREATING A DIVERSE, NEW ECONOMIC MODEL THAT PUTS THE AREA ON THE HORIZON TOWARD A BETTER WAY OF LIFE. TUCKED IN THESE PROGRESS EDITIONS ARE A FEW OF THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR 2012 AND BEYOND.

r G owthSPURT Energy industry spurs development in Woodward

By Cass Rains Staff Writer

WOODWARD — The city is experiencing phenomenal growth thanks to the area’s resurgence in the energy sector and a commitment by the city’s leadership. Assistant City Manager Doug Haines said the city has seen rapid growth in the past few years and expects to see even more. “Our growth is really expanding on a pretty rapid rate,” he said. “We’ve had a very large influx of activity from the oil and gas sector, along with the wind sector.” On Feb. 16, officials held a dedication for the opening of the Siemans Energy facility at the city’s Airport Industrial Park. Gov. Mary Fallin was among several state dignitaries who attended the event, as well as State Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez, State Secretary of Energy Mike Ming and Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy. Haines said Siemans is the “king of wind energy” and has established a distribution center in Woodward to service all of North America. “We will be providing all the parts and the tools and repairs neces-

sary for the generators that sit atop all these wind turbines,” he said. “It’s turned out to be a very good asset for us.” Haines said the facility will provide about 50 jobs to the area, but further growth is expected over the next 24 months. He said the placement of the facility in Woodward also will help companies that provide services to Siemans. “It’s really just a shot in the arm for us. It brings some very high quality jobs to this area,” he said. “We’re really excited to have them here.”

Conference Center completion The city also is preparing for another grand opening: This time for its state-of-the-art Conference Center. Congressman Frank Lucas will be present for the 11 a.m. grand opening ceremony Monday of the 30,000-square-foot facility. The city has spent the past two weeks putting the final touches on the center in preparation for the event. Landscaping and construction of parking lots were the last few items, completed, Haines said. The center will host Woodward’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and features a large exhibit hall, concourse area and break-out meeting areas.

The city is preparing for the grand opening of its 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Conference Center Monday. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

What’s developing It’s not just the city’s economy that’s growing. Haines said there are plans for a six-screen movie theater on the city’s west side. “That should be breaking ground in March,” he said. “We are getting a brand new facility from the ground up.” The project is being built by Mitchell Group of Kansas City and

will be on 34th Street. “We’re real excited about that. They’re bringing a top-quality entertainment venue here that replaces our existing, outdated theaters,” Haines said. “We’re just thrilled to death to have them come here.” An Oklahoma City developer also is constructing two housing additions, something Haines said the city needs “desperately,” with the influx of growth the city is experiencing.

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He said the work will be located in the south central area of the city, where more development is expected. The land was developed for housing years ago but no construction was done. “We expect more development to take place on the southern side of Woodward, where we already have the infrastructure,” he said. “The infrastructure is there. We’re starting to get some interest from the development side.”

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Something’s in the air Pond Creek and Hunter areas gearing up for wind farm Staff Writer

POND CREEK — Residents of these towns and surrounding areas are gearing up for a new wind farm scheduled to be built this spring, and looking forward to the economic benefits expected to come with its construction. TradeWind Energy LLC of Lenexa, Kan., has planned a 300-megawatt wind farm between Hunter and Pond Creek. Dubbed Chisholm View Wind Project, the farm is expected to cover approximately 45,000 acres, include 125 to 200 turbines and affect more than 150 landowners. According to TradeWind figures, the completed wind farm will provide enough power for 90,000 Oklahoma homes and pay out more than $3 million in annual payments to affected landowners.

Benefits to Pond Creek Pond Creek mayor Steve Stinson said local residents are looking forward to the wind farm, and the revenue it’s expected to generate. “We can’t predict what it will be as far as impact ... but I can’t see how it wouldn’t affect us positively in some way,” he said. Much of that impact will come during the construction phase, when 150 to 200 workers are expected to be based in the area, Stinson said. “Potentially, that will have a big effect as far as the businesses here in town,” he said. He said the increased traffic will help the three restaurants and one convenience store in Pond Creek. A second convenience store is expected to open later this spring.

With only one motel available in Pond Creek, wind farm workers likely will commute for lodging. “As far as accommodations go, it’s not looking real good for them here,” Stinson said. “The oil field has been going here for a while, and they’re taking up a lot of the motel space.” He expects the wind farm workers to add to already booming business for local store and restaurant owners. “The stores have already benefitted from the oil field,” he said. “This time of year is usually really slow, but it’s stayed steady. And, when the wind farm starts going in things will pick up. I don’t think it can do anything but pick up.”

Benefits to Hunter At the other end of the wind farm’s projected development path, residents in Hunter also are expecting business to pick up when workers arrive this spring. “It can’t do anything but help us, and it’s going to help the landowners out in the rural areas really well,” said Hunter Mayor Howard Kitchen. Kitchen said there are no convenience stores or restaurants in Hunter, but a convenience store is expected to open this spring, in part to meet needs of incoming wind farm and oil field workers. “We don’t have anything for sales tax in Hunter right now, so when that gets going it will help out the town a lot with sales tax,” Kitchen said. “People working out there will have to eat and keep on the go, and I assume that traffic will help us here in town.”

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Kitchen expects increased traffic to continue after construction is complete. “I think it will be kind of a tourist attraction for a while,” he said. “Most of the places around here you’re used to just seeing wheat fields and a tank battery here and there, and now you’re talking about seeing 140 wind turbines ... it’s going to change the scenery, and I’m sure you’ll have people driving through just to see what’s going on.”

... I’m sure you’ll have people driving through just to see what’s going on.”

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Hunter Mayor Howard Kitchen

Down the road Perhaps the biggest longterm benefits will be seen in Pond Creek-Hunter schools, because of ad valorem tax. Pond Creek-Hunter superintendent Joel Quinn said it may take years for benefits to filter down to the school district since TradeWind Energy has applied for a five-year exemption on assessed ad valorem taxes. The exemption is offered by the state as enticement to wind energy industry. “Further down the road, it’s going to be a positive for us because of the increase in the tax base and in our ad valorem tax-based income,” Quinn said. He said revenue from the turbines’ assessed value will give schools “financial stability for years to come,” and could make the district selfsufficient on local income. “If the numbers turn out to be as good as they look like they may be, Pond CreekHunter may be able to go off of state aid in the future and be able to rely on local financing,” Quinn said. “When you have locally-based funding like that it’s a lot more stable and not as susceptible to cuts in state funding.”

TradeWind Energy LLC of Lenexa, Kan., has planned a 300-megawatt wind farm between Hunter and Pond Creek. Local motels, eateries and other businesses already have seen the benefits. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

Asking for a little respect While schools and business owners in the path of the farm are looking to increased revenue, some in surrounding areas worry they’ll see increased traffic from the wind farm construction but reap little or none of its benefits. “I think the only thing we’re going to see here in Kremlin is the increased traffic through town,” said

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Kremlin mayor Larry Keller. He said the town already is seeing increased truck traffic related to the oil and natural gas industry, and he expects even more traffic when wind farm construction begins. Keller said Kremlin doesn’t have stores to garner sales tax revenue from increased traffic; the closest store is Midway Station, two miles west of Kremlin on U.S. 81. “I think they will benefit

from it, but the only thing in Kremlin that would be affected is if they wanted to set up trailers or something like that, but we haven’t been approached on that,” Keller said. “I think our biggest problem is going to be getting the trucks to slow down when they come through town. There are a lot of kids and animals out here, and people need to respect these little towns, but they seldom do.”

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y t i n u t p r p o o

INCREASED

Ringwood transitioning into new programs, curriculum By Bridget Nash Staff Writer

Ringwood is working closely with Northern Oklahoma College, Redlands Community College and Northwest Technology Center to allow students to begin higher education while still in high school. “Students can graduate high school with a career tech certificate and an associate degree,” said Deighan. “We are meeting with parents to let them know these things are possible.” In addition to meeting mandates, the district also is working on other ways to improve learning for Ringwood students. “We did get a $660,000 after-school (program) grant,” said Deighan. “We just started that in November. It’s $660,000 over five years.” The grant allows tutoring and enrichment activities before and after school. “We have nine community partners,” Deighan said.

RINGWOOD — Ringwood Public Schools elementary students have settled into their second year in the district’s new building, and, with room to spare, officials have shifted focus to new changes headed their way. A 2010 State Department of Education mandates public schools transition to the Common Core State Standards curriculum, which has been adopted by 44 states. “We are looking toward next year being a transition year,” said Tom Deighan, Ringwood superintendent. Each school is expected to have transitioned to the curriculum by the 2014-15 school year. Ringwood also will work on Teacher and Leader Effectiveness evaluation system that must be implemented by the 2013-14 school Ringwood Public Schools elementary students have settled into their second year in a new building, year. Deighan said and officials have shifted focus to new changes headed their way. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON) this system will be a new motivator for district educators. With the construction of the “much-need“The teachers’ jobs will be tied to test ed” elementary school behind them, school grades from now on,” he said. “I’m confident officials hope to have another bond issue in a our teachers will be fine under the new sys- few years to update the remainder of the school tem.” facility. The TLE system also offers pay incentive “The elementary school will be paid off in to teachers who show they are increasing a year and a half,” said Deighan. “The people learning achievement in the classroom. of the community have really helped (with the A series of community meetings to educate elementary school construction).” parents and community members about the The decisions to be made about the remainchanges will be 5 and 6:30 p.m. March 27 and ing school facilities include deciding if the oldMarch 29 in the school’s cafeteria. est buildings can be renovated or if they need Along with these mandated changes come replaced. Contractors will assess the durability increased opportunities for students, Deighan of the existing buildings before any decisions will be made, Deighan said, and it will be sevsaid. “One thing we’re looking a is a college and eral years before any renovations or new construction take place, said Deighan. career track,” he said.

Gene Anderson stands at the entrance to Chisholm Trail Estates. Phase I of the residential area project construction includes 15 half-acre and acre lots starting at $22,500. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

Anderson helping make Waukomis By Austin Prickett Staff Writer

WAUKOMIS — Situated along its namesake, the famous Chisholm Trail, Chisholm Trail Estates offers a unique housing development for the area. In its third year of development, the 38-lot project south of Waukomis on U.S. 81 features three homes. The development is separated into two phases, with phase one offering 18 lots. AC Development L.L.C. is in charge of the project. AC co-owner and Waukomis native Gene Anderson said his company develops, finances and custom-builds homes for the project. “We can do it all if you are interested in developing,” Anderson said. “Their are hardly any developers who will make loans to people. It makes it much easier to buy a lot.” Phase one currently is under way with lots ranging in size from a half acre to one acre and starting at $22,500. A pond is situated on the property, with six of the phase one lots being developed around it. The homes AC Development typi-

home cally build on the lots range from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet and feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Anderson said the homes are all energy efficient and have garages situated on the side, so they are not as visible. Each yard features an underground sprinkler system. The three homes already built are belong to members of the Air Force assigned to Vance Air Force Base. “Right now we are catering to the Air Force. They are all good families,” Anderson said. Anderson said he listed the newest home on the property on Vance’s international website, and he was contacted in 15 minutes by the current owners. He said he has a loose plan to have phase one completed within five years. “Our primary objective is to fill the lots and sell homes,” Anderson said. “But we are part of an organized effort in Waukomis to clean up the town.” He said Waukomis is a great place to raise a family. “It’s close to Enid, has a good school system and good people,” Anderson said. “We are trying to put it on the map.”

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LO O K I N G TO

diversify

Alva officials not secure with current boom By Cass Rains Staff Writer

ALVA — Although this northwest Oklahoma city is reaping benefits of renewed interest in oil and natural gas exploration, city leaders are looking toward the future when the boom busts. “Although our revenue is up, in some cases as much as 20 percent, that could soon be eaten by repair costs as our aging infrastructure is of constant concern,” said Alva Mayor Arden Chaffee. He said city and county officials are working to form a metro area planning commission. “We’re working with the county commissioners, establishing more or less a three-mile limit around Alva — the exact shape is yet to be determined — in which the county commissioners will concede some of their authority so the city can impose various zoning and code enforcement issues to protect the immediate area when the surge ends,” Chaffee said. “Out in the county we have no zoning laws and have no intentions of imposing any in the agricultural areas.” He said some of controls the MAPC may implement include zoning, subdivision regulations, easements, transfer of development rights, building codes, capital improvement plans, comprehensive plans and compatibility issues. Chaffee said which controls the city will use will be discussed at city council meetings. “We’re concerned about our infrastructure needs,” he said. “We want to provide services for the oil industry and be user-

friendly, but at the same time we want to think about what it will look like 10 years from now. We don’t want to put all of our eggs in the oil field basket.”

Providing services in a sensible way City Manager Steve Brown said the demand for support services to gas and oil exploration have increased greatly. “We’re seeing pretty much a variety of Crew housing for oil field workers has been set up in Alva. Although the city is reaping benefits of renewed interest in oil and natural gas exploration, leaders are looking toward the future when they believe the boom will bust. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

FREE things coming in that’s related to gas and oil,” he said. “We’re also seeing an increase in our local business, including groceries and merchandise and vehicle repairs.” Brown said two new motels are under construction on the city’s east side. All other usable space in the city has been filled. “We don’t have any hotel space. If you call a hotel you have to work in when you can stay rather than when you want to stay,” Brown said. The city manager said the city’s leadership realizes the influx into the economy won’t last forever. “It’s something we can benefit from; however, we need to manage it correctly,” he said. “Not only do we need to manage the opportunities we have but any type of continued growth, we have to manage that as well.”

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“Engaging

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Really the whole purpose of this is quality of instruction, not quantity of instruction.”

Cory Ellis, superintendent of Cherokee Public Schools

First-grader JaKayla Nunnally (above, left) works on a computer at Cherokee Elementary School. Heidi Newlin (above, at left) works with a group of third-grade students at Cherokee. Teachers at Cherokee Elementary School are updating methods and learning to approach students in new ways. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

the student

Cherokee school district turning negative into positive By Phyllis Zorn Staff Writer

CHEROKEE — Teachers at Cherokee Elementary School are updating methods and learning to approach students in new ways. Cory Ellis, superintendent of Cherokee Public Schools since February 2011, said an updated approach was needed because the school made the state’s list of “schools in need of improvement” this year. Ellis, who grew up in Cherokee, said when he returned to the school as superintendent, he saw classrooms still set up with “rows of desks all facing the blackboard,” a style used for generations of students who spent their time listening to the teacher lecture. “Adults only have about 20 minutes of attention span,” Ellis said. “Why do we expect kids to have a 40-minute attention span?” More modern teaching methods yield better results, Ellis said. “Now what we’re looking at is a type of lesson where there is student engagement,” Ellis said.

Engaging the student makes all the difference, he said, in helping the teacher reach individual students. “The goal is to have it so the student can recall that lesson three weeks down the road, instead of just long enough to get through the test,” Ellis said. He said he anticipated the school was headed for the “needs improvement” list. “The state report cards pretty much predicted that Cherokee was not going to be in a good place,” Ellis said. He calls the approach elementary school teachers are taking now “a compilation of best practices together.” “What we’re trying to do is come up with a framework that is schoolwide, that everybody is modeling the same kind of teaching,” Ellis said. There are 170 students in the elementary school at Cherokee, which educates students up to eighth grade. “Really the whole purpose of this is quality of instruction, not quantity of instruction,” Ellis said.

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‘ By Jeff Mullin Senior Writer

In the coming weeks, something besides airplanes will begin climbing into the sky above Vance Air Force Base. Ground soon will be broken on Vance’s new control tower, replacing the present tower completed in 1972. Maj. Eric Fladie of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the entity overseeing the design and construction phase of the project, said he expects construction in April. Preliminary work to relocate existing communications lines is under way. When completed, the new tower will be the base’s third since Vance was constructed in 1941, said Donita Hazlett, acting base civil engineer. The tower project originally was allotted $10.7 million through an insert by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act passed by Congress in 2009. The new tower is only expected to cost some $9.9 million, however. “The bids essentially came in a little bit lower than we had programmed,” Fladie said.

Getting started Groundbreaking for the tower, originally scheduled for October, has been delayed by a design change involving elevator and stairwell sizes. The areas must be large enough to accommodate emergency personnel. “A lot of the issue with the elevator and also with the stairway was to be able to facilitate emergency rescue if we had somebody with a medical condition or some other kind of issue up in the control tower cab or on one of the other floors,” Hazlett said. Code requires the elevator or stairwell to be large enough to accommodate a standard gurney, emergency personnel and rescue equipment, she added.

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flying

We’re building

New tower topping list of Vance AFB projects

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training campus

“In the initial design, the design had not met all those requirements,” Hazlett said. The tower is scheduled for completion next February, then the old tower will be removed by May 2013, affording a 60-day window for moving equipment and personnel from the old to the new. “Currently we are on track for the new established completion dates,” Fladie said. “We do not see any holdups at this point. That new redesign process is going very well.” The cab floor of Vance’s present tower is 63 feet high, which will reach only to the seventh floor of the new tower, the cab floor of which will be 96 feet above ground level. The new tower not only will be taller but larger — 6,665 square feet to the current tower’s 2,294. The present tower cab is 56 percent smaller than Air Force standard, too small to house updated equipment and multiple controllers and trainees. The old tower also has no elevator. In addition, the new tower will meet all safety and fire codes. “The government has code that is above and beyond our commercial or civilian sector code,” Fladie said. Much of the work, Fladie said, will be done by local or regional contractors.

The future looks promising The new tower will have the latest in air traffic control equipment, some of which is used now. “We actually have a lot of that equipment now, and it’s literally jammed in to the old control tower,”

said Hazlett. “A lot of their display screens are not the proper size. They had to downsize. When we get the new tower they will actually have the proper size display screens, which will make their job even easier.”

ly improve the quality of life for our airmen,” Hazlett said. During the renovation, some enlisted members have been moved into officers’ dorms. “In our opinion it is a lot easier

Donita Hazlett, acting Vance Air Force Base civil engineer, and Maj. Eric Fladie of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (left) discuss the construction of a new $9.9 million control tower at Vance Air Force Base to replace the current structure (above) by next year. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

The new tower will provide controllers better visibility than they have now, she added, since they now are hampered by blind spots created by the tower’s height and aircraft shelters constructed in recent years. “With the current tower height there’s some blind spots that they can’t see everything,” Hazlett said, “with the new tower they will be able to see everything.”

A place to call home Another upcoming project is renovation of the base’s enlisted dormitories. That is a $6.5 million project to replace the heating and air conditioning systems in the 1950s-era dorms, as well as modernizing the kitchens. One goal is to make the dorms more energy efficient and eliminate a possible mold issue due to moisture on the old heating and cooling lines. “Both of these projects will great-

for the officers to be able to afford living off-base with their housing allowance versus the younger enlisted folks,” Hazlett said.

On the runway In fiscal year 2014, Vance will undertake a $30 million repair project on its outside runway and taxiways. A $1.7 million patching, or “bandage,” project on the runway was completed in December. The upcoming project will take the outside runway out of commission for an extended period. “This project will replace a majority of the concrete slabs out there, along with a lot of other work to do a major upgrade, to extend the life of that runway,” said Hazlett. “It’s not quite building a new one, but it’s pretty close.” Closing the outside runway will restrict operations for T-1s and T38s, since only T-6s can use the

base’s inside runway. Neither the dormitory nor runway projects will be paid for with military construction funds allocated by Congress. The dorm project will be funded with dormitory focus funds, while the runway refurbishment is a standard infrastructure and repair project. Future projects being planned are additions and alterations to Vance squadron facilities. That $17.9 million project will expand and consolidate existing squadron facilities. “That’s really the long-range vision,” Hazlett said. “We’re building a flying training campus.” Funding for this project will be sought in fiscal year 2014, since Department of Defense and Congress have declared a moratorium in funding military construction (milcon) projects in FY 2013. Farther down the road is a $15.6 million community support and professional development center.

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In a good place City leaders of Fairview seeing growth potential By James Neal Staff Writer FAIRVIEW — Community leaders are optimistic about the city’s future, thanks in large part to ongoing development in the oil and natural gas industry. Major County has yet to see a resurgence in drilling activity but has benefited from its position between horizontal drilling fields to the north and south. “Major County is in a good location right now because it’s kind of a central location for all the oil and gas activity around us,” said Major County Assessor Donise Rogers. That central position has brought several new companies to Fairview in the past two years, including O-Tex Pumping, Quest Chemical and Crescent Services. Those companies located in facilities vacated by other oil field service providers in 2009, when oil field activity all but disappeared from the county. Rogers said the county recently benefited from approximately $30 million in investments at an Atlas Pipeline MidContinent WestOk facility north of Ringwood and could benefit from a proposed pipeline junction in Cleo Springs. “We are seeing some growth in the oil and gas industry, even though there’s not that much drilling here in the county,” Rogers said.

Demand for progress

Rodney Wedel (top) paints a home being built by Gloss Mountain Homes at Major County Economic Development Corp. A truck (above) sits in the OTex pumping yard located north of Fairview. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

All of that increased activity also is leading to increased demand for employees and employee training programs. Steve Kliewer, director of business and industry services at Northwest Technology Center-Fairview, said there currently are more than 1,300 job openings in northwest Oklahoma, most of them being in oil field-related trucking. “We’ve had a considerable amount of demand for industry help, especially for CDL Class A skills for truck drivers,” Kliewer said. He said demand is up in all industry sectors, but the oil and natural gas indus-

try “is overshadowing everything else.” Contest. The contest, which will con“We have a lot of small companies in clude in June, offers $10,000 in prizes to our area that service the oil and natural local businesses for improvements to gas industry, and one of our biggest their store fronts. needs right now is providing information Overall, Stubsten rated the prospects and training for safety requirements so for future development in Fairview and they can be in compliance with Major County as “excellent.” (Occupational Safety and Health Admin“We’re seeing a number of opportuniistration) regulations,” Kliewer said. ties on the horizon, and we’re going to Major County Economic Develop- see more development in Fairview and ment Corp. president Mark Stubsten also Major County,” he said. Fairview city manager Dale Sides credited the oil and gas industry with fueling local economic development. shared in that optimistic outlook. “We’re witnessing a lot of traffic, “Things are looking very positive motels and restaurants being full, he said, here,” Sides said. “The traffic is way up, “and with that activity we continue to see our sales tax revenue is up, we have a lot companies lookof people inquiring for locations ing about comto move in.” mercial properMCEDC is ties to rent, and considering those are the We’re seeing a number constructing a main indicators of opportunities on the building in Fairwe’re looking at view Industrial right now.” horizon, and we’re goPark to accomSides said ing to see more development modate bigger Fairview’s sales in Fairview and Major County.” demand for tax revenue this Mark Stubsten, president, business space. year has shown a Major County Economic Development Corp. MCEDC’s pre12 to 13 percent vious “spec increase over the building” is ocsame period last cupied by Powyear. erMax Equipment, which specializes in Fairview recently has undertaken a refurbishing and selling industrial equip- number of significant capital improvement. ment projects. “We have a company that has The city completed a $3 million expressed an interest in having a building project to build the new Fairview built in the industrial park, but we’re still Aquatic Center and renovate the forworking on finalizing that deal,” mer Blackledge Auditorium, now Stubsten said. known as Fairview Community He said MCEDC already had looked Center, last year. into constructing a second spec building, Sides said the newly renovated “but we didn’t want to progress on a spec community center, complete with a building if we had a candidate interested main event space and conference in working with us on a design.” rooms, “is something that’s really Other developments in the industrial shining in the community.” park include the construction of a publicThe city also recently completed a access CNG pump currently being $1.8 million project to repair its sewer installed by L&S Fuels. lagoons and is continuing with a $250,000 project to build a storm ‘Opportunities on the horizon’ water detention pond on the city’s west MCEDC also partnered recently with side. Sides said improvements in sales Fairview Chamber of Commerce, city of Fairview, Farmers and Merchants tax revenue will help with the ongoing National Bank and Fairview Savings and infrastructure projects, “but those are Loan Association to sponsor the things that would have been on board Fairview Storefront Improvement regardless.”

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WildHorse gang

THERE’S NO STOPPING A

Group benefits community, its members By Bridget Nash Staff Writer

KREMLIN — In 1992 there was a little problem in the Kremlin area. A few kids were getting bored and getting into trouble, committing petty acts of vandalism and small crimes. Kremlin’s Gini Zaloudek decided there was something that could be done about it. “I decided, since I did volunteer work and it gave me selfesteem, if I taught kids to do that, it would give them self-esteem,” Zaloudek said. The WildHorse Gang was born, and it has been going strong for nearly 20 years. Made up of youths of all ages, Gang members learn to care for their community and for others through volunteering. WildHorse Gang does many volunteer activities, including planting wildflowers, roadside clean-up, ushering for Enid Symphony Orchestra and Cherokee Strip Parade clean-up.

WildHorse Gang raises money for other causes, too, including Kremlin’s education foundation, which gives grants to teachers.

Bettering themselves While the Gang, comprised of about 40 Kremlin youths, works hard to clean up and make their community better, Zaloudek also makes sure the members better themselves. Recently she had WildHorse Gang members attend an etiquette school. “The kids were incredible,” said Zaloudek. “It was an all-day thing, from 10 in the morning until four in the afternoon. I had no trouble with the kids.” The WildHorse Gang meets monthly at Zaloudek’s home, and while they plan ways to help others, Zaloudek said she tries to teach them little things — such as a proper handshake and eye contact, as well as the importance of the flag salute and pride in the nation, state and community — that make a big impact.

A can-do attitude

Credit where credit is due

“Fifteen years ago, we started the aluminum can round-up because they were going to close the Kremlin pool,” Zaloudek said. “We really want to keep the pool. It’s one of the few things for the kids to do (in Kremlin) in the summer.” The group collects aluminum cans year-round to raise money to keep the pool open, gathering from as far away as Crescent. Zaloudek said the gang has raised about $4,000 for the pool during the last several years. All of the aluminum can money goes to the pool, but

Zaloudek’s gumption and heart have kept WildHorse Gang going for two decades, but she won’t take the credit. “We get a lot of support from our local community members here in Kremlin, and the people in Enid are incredible,” Zaloudek said. “(The members’ parents are) the most wonderful parents in the world.” She said the local school also has been supportive of WildHorse Gang and its mission. But the kids, she said, really are what keep the gang going. Zaloudek said children as young

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WildHorse Gang members (above) gather near Kremlin Swimming Pool. As a community service project, WildHorse Gang founder Gini Zaloudek leads youths in collecting aluminum cans and pull tabs to raise funds for maintenance of the pool and other causes. Zaloudek (right) hugs two members of the Gang. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

as 2 have joined WildHorse Gang, and there are some members who have been with the group from early childhood through high school. “I want these kids to learn how important it is to do things for other people,” she said. “I’m so proud of what these kids have accomplished. It’s amazing how they volunteer, and their parents are my biggest supporters.” WildHorse Gang has earned several honors — including recognition from the governor — but they also bestow honor upon others. The gang awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior who intends to continue volunteer work throughout his or her college years and gives a Beautiful Day award each year to a community member who

gives time to help others. “That award was named for Steve Gannon who always said, ‘Isn’t it a beautiful day?’” Zaloudek said. “He was the first recipient.” She credits her parents for instilling a drive to help others. Her mother taught her to work hard, she said, and her father taught her to have fun doing it. That is just what WildHorse Gang does. They work hard and have fun all while helping others every step of the way. In addition to aluminum cans, WildHorse Gang collects pull tabs from cans to donate to Ronald McDonald House in Oklahoma City. Monetary donations may be made to WildHorse Gang at Bank of Kremlin.

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Pay-as-you-go

Hennessey officials work to fund plan without tax dollars By James Neal Staff Writer

HENNESSEY — Town officials and civic leaders are moving forward with a $3.5 million, five-year master plan for community development, and they hope to complete the project without dipping into tax dollars. Phase one of the plan, with a price tag of $768,935, calls for constructing a skate park, volleyball court, basketball court, playground and 128-space parking lot. The second phase of the plan, estimated to cost $2.73 million, will include a new aquatic park with a swimming pool, splash pad, slides, bath house and restrooms. The third and final phase of the master plan, for which a cost has yet to be estimated, would include construction of a community event center and tornado shelter. Hennessey town administrator Tiffany Tillman said the town has applied for a $384,467 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. The remainder of the phase one funding is slated to come from Community Development Block Grant funds and community donations of equipment and labor. Tillman said the second and third phases of the project, the aquatic and event centers, were not included in the Land and Water Conservation funding “because they did not meet the grant criteria.” While the majority of the master plan remains unfunded, Hennessey Mayor Wes Hardin is optimistic community and corporate donations will fill the gap and avert the need

for a bond issue. Hardin said donations and pledges of land, equipment and labor, along with Community Development Block Grant money, already have added up to nearly $385,000 for phase one. “We’re hoping we can do the whole project that way,” Hardin said. “I think the majority of the community is behind this project, and I think we can get it done.” Hennessey public works director Curtis Turner also is optimistic about finding grants and private funding sources for the master plan. “We were so pressed for time when we submitted the grant application for phase one, up to that point we hadn’t really been able to pursue additional funding,” Turner said. “There are a lot of other avenues to pursue out there for funding, and I think it’s a goal for the community that everybody wants to get involved with and get behind.”

A walking trail and other planned improvements to Bullfoot Park are being accomplished through cooperation of town and Hennessey United officials. Town officials and civic leaders are moving forward with a $3.5 million, five-year master plan for community development. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

United for the town Turner said the community has been involved in the master planning process for more than a year. Town residents were asked to submit project suggestions for the master plan. Then, at a public meeting, each resident in attendance was given three votes for elements of the five-year plan. Hennessey United, a coalition of community leaders and volunteers, has been instrumental in gathering public support for the master plan. “We’re just an organization that tries to pull all the entities together and make things work,” said Hennessey United president Jimmy Berkenbile. Hennessey United was founded in 1999 as Hennessey 2010 with the mission of creating a 10-year strategic plan for the town. The group changed its name in 2009 to reflect the next decade of planning. Hennessey United has helped

coordinate master plan efforts between the town, its citizens and Hennessey Board of Education. Coordination with the school board has proved invaluable in getting the master plan started. “The only way this thing was going to work was to go through the schools, so we went to the school board to see if there was a way we

could build the master plan around the schools,” Berkenbile said. The school board was receptive of the plan and donated three and a quarter acres of land adjacent to the elementary school for the project. Ground-breaking for the project is on hold, pending an answer on the town’s application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.

That answer is expected in May. Turner said phase one of the project would be completed by fall if the grant is approved in May. Other long-term projects not in the master plan include improvements to the town’s sewer system, addition of an industrial park and beautification in Bullfoot Park. In the short term, the town is continuing its Hometown Hootenanny series, a music festival, with the next installment slated April 14. Also scheduled for April 14 is Hennessey Red Dirt Festival, a separate music festival featuring five live bands. For information on these events, go to www.hennesseyhometown hootenanny.com or call the town office at (405) 853-2416.

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Kicking them out ofgoothe nest d nest egg with a

Raising funding for scholarships is vital mission for Garber alumni By Robert Barron Staff Writer

GARBER — Deserving seniors at Garber High School can count on receiving a scholarship from school alumni, thanks to an alumni program to endow the fund. Jim Lamer, Garber Public Schools superintendent, said the alumni association took on the responsibility of raising funding and have been successful. Lamer said Garber normally graduates 20 to 30 seniors each year, although the 2011-12 class should number 18. “We have a good number of underclassmen. This year there are 33 juniors, 28 sophomores and 29 freshmen. The alumni have always had a scholarship, but they matched it with a community foundation and got some tax benefits,” Lamer said. Ted Metscher, class of 1956 member and president of the alumni association, said Garber High School once funded scholarships through a frantic appeal to alumni every two years. The association officers became concerned the fund — and the scholarships — could dry up. “Four years ago we decided to endow some money to provide scholarships in perpetuity,” Metscher said. They contacted Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, which specializes in small community-endowed funds, and started sending information to alumni. They raised more than $40,000 within a year. At the time, the foundation matched 50 percent, and the association took advantage of that by starting two other funds. One was the Championship Fund, because Garber won state championships in football and basketball that year, and the other was Breckinridge Fund, named after a prominent graduate. Last year the group offered four $500 scholarships in 2011, with much of the money from endowed funds proceeds. With the rising cost of education beyond high school, group members hope to offer $1,000 scholarships. Also in 2011, the alumni began the Merl Huntsinger fund after receiving a large donation from Huntsinger, a 1935 graduate. Huntsinger, now 96, sent a check to start the fund. “The foundation matched it, and now there are four funds that will fund four $1,000 scholarships in the future for deserving graduates of Garber High School,” Metscher said. “Except for the Huntsinger fund, they have all been $25, $50, $100 contributions. We got overwhelming support from the alumni.” With great fundraising success in 2011, the four funds total $98,876, he said.

Garber High School seniors (top) relax between classes in the foyer of their school. According to Ted Metscher, class of 1956 member and president of the alumni association, Garber seniors are eligible to apply for Alumni Endowment Fund scholarships awarded each year. The Earl H. Naugle Scholarship plaque (above, left) hangs in the lobby of Garber High School. Garber High School alumni honor several graduating seniors with endowment scholarships each year. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

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ub siness

Mayor, council ready to talk to prospective employers By Robert Barron Staff Writer

WATONGA — The city council has approved clearing an area east of town for use as an industrial park to attract business to the Blaine County community. An 80-acre tract east of town was designated in December, said Mayor Dale Green, after he had received some inquiries — mostly oil field-related — about possible building sites. The proposal was to clear the front half of the tract and divide it into five-acre strips available for lease. The city could extend water and electrical utilities, but tenants would need to provide their own septic system, Green said. “We don’t have the money to build any buildings. Several oil companies have moved in and plan to construct, but no one is actually committed yet. We want to get it developed, but we want to know what’s going on,” Green said. There has been discussion among the council members to seek advice from nearby Chisholm Trail Technology Center or Central Oklahoma Regional Development, a partnership comprised of 10 communities, including Watonga, in central Oklahoma. Green said there is an area with an existing railroad spur for access to the railroad. The city has owned the property since the 1970s. The city also owns a large building recently purchased by an aircraft salvage business with plans to lease or sell to an industry. “Anyone who wants to lease a space (can) come to the city council and talk,” Green said. Economic development has suffered in Watonga since the A sign (above) welcomes motorists to Watonga. City leaders hope to spur ecoclosure of nearby Diamond- nomic development with land incentives, including a parcel of land (top) in the back prison. The well-known northeast part of town that boasts a railroad spur. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON) Watonga Cheese Factory also looking for a railroad spur, and they need 40 relocated, eventually moving to Texas. “We’re looking at a company now that is acres,” he said. “Maybe that will go.”

Construction (above) continues on a new building across from Drummond Public Schools. Larry Conrady, Drummond’s school information technology director, and Dr. Mike Woods, superintendent, (below, from left) work with the district’s computer systems. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

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EXPANDING By Phyllis Zorn Staff Writer

DRUMMOND — Across the street from Drummond Public Schools, a new multi-purpose building is taking form. The building will be used by students of the elementary and high school and be available for community events, such as meetings and reunions. It will have seating for nearly 600 people. The community of just more than 400 residents passed a $2.9 million bond project to fund its construction. According to school Superintendent Mike Woods, the building not only will provide space for agriculture projects and sports events it will ease the strain of scheduling the use of the school’s gymnasium. The 350 students — 90 of whom are high schoolers — share the existing gymnasium. “Sharing the one main gym, that’s not too bad, but what you do is you build your schedule around the gym being open,” Woods said. The multi-purpose facility will serve as more than a gymnasium, though. It will provide room for such activities as the school’s agriculture program. Construction began in October. “We’ve had tremendous support from the Farmers Co-op,” Woods said. He added Garfield County also has lent help with building tasks. The next building project on the Drummond agenda is a 143-foot tall, 50kilowatt wind turbine. The turbine, to be located southeast of the multi-purpose building, will supply about 60 to 70 percent of the school’s electricity needs. The turbine will be paid for by a $369,000 grand from Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

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Enid News & Eagle

M AIN FOCUS Kingfisher leaders say business good alongside U.S. 81 By Austin Prickett Staff Writer

KINGFISHER — Taking a drive down Main Street, one notices business after business these days. Situated along U.S. 81, the street features a variety of businesses offering personality to a small-town economy. These businesses have added up, and the small city’s main street nearly is full, according to the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce manager. “We have very few openings,” Judy Whipple said. “Most of these would be small office spaces for rent.” Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce has participated in 15 new business activities throughout the past year. She said the area along U.S. 81 has added several retail shops. “We are certainly growing. The new shops are small but very unique,” Whipple said. One new business is Cabin Fever Mercantile, an antique mall open since fall. “It is a very nice addition to Main Street,” she said. She said Main Street Kingfisher has remained consistent for years. “We haven’t had a lot of empty businesses,” she said. “If one business goes under it always seems like another is there to take its place.” Even the recession couldn’t deliver a fatal blow. While some took sales dips, Whipple said, they kept going. The area recently underwent a makeover with repavement of the highway, which is renamed Main Street in the Kingfisher city limits, and renovations of sidewalks. “We’ve had a lot of construction for the past seven or eight months. We were very happy to see everything completed and back to normal,” Whipple said. A new set of statues will be unveiled on Main Street in a ceremony Thursday. One features Paul Sykes, a slave who traveled from Mississippi to Kingfisher by foot. Sykes founded a church in Kingfisher and became nationally known as he danced and sang at Kingfisher Train Depot in support of his church. Many trains Sykes performed for carried World War I soldiers. Also featured in the statue set will be Keith Lowry, the only man from Kingfisher to die in World War I. The statue of Lowry will be watching Sykes. The final statue in the set will be a little girl throwing pennies to Sykes. The little girl statue is modeled after a Kingfisher girl whose name was drawn in a contest, Whipple said. “I think our downtown is alive and thriving,” she said.

A new set of statues will be unveiled on Main Street in a ceremony Thursday.

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Business is doing well along Main Street, also U.S. 81, in Kingfisher. A statue of Jessie Chisholm (top left) sits at U.S. 81 and Oklahoma 33. (Staff File Photo) Banners, 89er Theatre, and murals of the Kingfisher Legacies logo and historic events (clockwise from left) can be seen along Main Street. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

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Enid News & Eagle

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Heart

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to help

Medford Ambulance Service continues to make strides in patient care By Jeff Mullin

cate a heart problem, patients can skip the emergency room altogether and be taken directly to the heart catheter lab for treatment. “They talk about the golden hour. With this system the patient can go directly to the cath lab, and they (physicians) will already have information to go on with this person’s heart,” said Dea Kretchmar, Medford’s city manager. “This will be another level of patient care that we will be able to provide.” Bill Holland, a former nurse practitioner in Medford who currently works in Shawnee, will train emergency medical technicians on the operation of the 12-lead EKG, which records 12 different electrical signals at the same time, giving EMTs and physicians a more detailed picture of what is going on with a patient’s heart. “The 12-lead EKG will monitor blood pressure, pulse, everything,” said Rogers. “This will be a boon to everybody.” “I think it will give us so much more information about what is actually going on with the patient,” said Kretchmar. “We will know if we need to call for an advanced life support intercept or just take them to the hospital.” Medford Ambulance Service covers 550 square miles, basically the northern half of Grant County, Rogers said. “It is a huge area,” she said. “This 12-lead monitor would be very beneficial, especially in the far-out regions.”

Senior Writer

MEDFORD — Oma Lea Rogers has been part of Medford Ambulance Service for 32 years, during which time she has seen the service go through a number of changes. Another change is coming soon. Medford Ambulance Service is one of several services located in towns along U.S. 81 to be chosen to participate in new program with Integris Bass Baptist Health Center in Enid. This month Medford Ambulance Service will receive a 12-lead electrocardiogram to monitor cardiac patients. Other ambulance services in the program include Enid’s LIFE EMS and those in Pond Creek and Waukomis. “I think that it will give us a lot more facts, and we can hook them up immediately if we suspect a cardiac problem,” said Rogers, director of Medford Ambulance Service. The patient’s EKG report will be transmitted wirelessly to emergency room doctors at either Bass or St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Readings can be sent every five minutes, if necessary, so ER doctors can keep track of the patient’s condition while the ambulance still is en route. “They can call us and say the patient needs advanced life support, so we might have to transfer them over to another ambulance service,” Rogers said. “It will be a wonderful advantage to our service.” If the EKG readings indi-

Medford Ambulance Service has relocated to a new fire department and ambulance service facility (left) at 615 N. Front St., north of the U.S. 81 and Oklahoma 11 intersection. John Benningfield and Oma Lea Rogers (above) pause near one of the Medford Ambulance Service vehicles. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

Always seeking volunteers The service has two ambulances, one equipped with four-wheel drive. Seven people, five EMTs and two firstresponders, work for Medford Ambulance Service. “They get a small stipend each month for the hours they cover,” Kretchmar said, “but they are basically all volunteers. We are a small crew, but we are always looking for more volunteers.” Rogers is the longest-serving volunteer. The retired school teacher formerly served as the service’s training officer as well as director and EMT. Jim Shepherd has taken over as the service’s training officer. While she was teaching, Kretchmar said, Rogers worked “a couple hundred hours a month on her offhours and weekends.” After retiring from her post as a first- and third-grade teacher, Rogers now has much more time to devote to her ambulance service duties.

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“Now she covers a minimum of 350 hours each month,” she said. “Oma Lea has been a treasure to the service. She is our go-to girl on the ambulance service.” For Rogers, her time spent with Medford Ambulance Service is very personal. “This is my home,” she said. “I know most of the people. We have a lot of new people, but I try to make it my business to meet them so we are on a first-name basis.”

State-of-the-art service Medford Ambulance Service was founded in the 1970s by a local funeral home, Kretchmar said, before the city of Medford became involved. The service is funded through a voter-approved, one-penny, county emergency services sales tax, first adopted about a decade ago and already renewed once by voters. Medford Ambulance Service and Medford Fire Department both have bene-

fited from the tax, revenues from which have increased dramatically in recent months because of an upswing in oil field activity in Grant County. The increase in tax revenue has allowed Medford Ambulance Service to set aside some $7,000 a month to purchase a new ambulance. “We have ordered heart monitors, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) and new training equipment, all purchased through the tax,” Kretchmar said. The service also has been able to purchase electric cots capable of raising and lowering patients without EMTs having to lift them. “They (the new cots) will lift 750 pounds,” Rogers said. “We have been able to upgrade our supplies and equipment. We are becoming state-of-the-art.” Medford Ambulance Service shares a building with the town’s fire department, a facility completed in 2006. The building, Rogers said, was paid off quickly.

“It was already paid off right when this oil boom started,” she said. “We were very frugal and saved and paid it off as quickly as we could.” The combined fire/ambulance building has a backup generator and could serve as a shelter in case of widespread power outage in Medford. In January the state conducted a surprise inspection of Medford Ambulance Service, and “we passed with flying colors,” said Kretchmar. “We asked how our ambulance service ranks, and he said we are right up there for a small-town service. That boosted our esteem a lot.” “We didn’t have any deficiencies,” Rogers said. “You have to have everything you are supposed to have on his list, all your meds have to be in date, everything has to be in tip-top condition. We are very proud of that.” Later this year Medford Ambulance Service will undergo another big change: Rogers plans to retire in December.

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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Enid News & Eagle

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